Stalk-cutter.



M. L. ADAMS.

STALK CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED 001'.10,1013.

1,105,949, Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

Inventor Attorneys 'IHE NORRIS PETERS (10.. PHOTO-LITHU WASHINGTON, D. C

UNITED STATES:

PATENT OFFICE.

MARSHALL LEE ADAMS, IOF GOLDSBORO, NORTH. CAROLINA..

STALK -CU'ITER.

Specification of Letters latent.

Application filed October 16, 1913. Serial No. 795,533. 1

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARSHALL L. ADAMS,

or clogging and to enable them to be readily assembled or taken apart.

Another object is to provide a cutting or chopping means which can beadjusted upwardly and downwardly so as to bear with any desired degree of pressure upon the stalks resting on the ground- Another object is toprovide means whereby either one or two separate cutting units can be used, it being possible to adjust these units toward or from eachother and it also being possible to readily remove either of the unlts from the shaft on: which it rotates.

lVith the foregoingand other objects, in View which will. appear :as the description proceeds,the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the inventionherein disclosed, can be made with in the scope of what is claimed, without. departin from the spirit of the invention In the accompanying drawings the pre ferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings :Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a machine having two cutting elements thereon such as constitute the present invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section through one of the cutting elements. Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the heads of a cutting unit. Fig. 5 is a side view of one of the gathering teeth and its supporting bar.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a portion of the frame of the machine having hangers 2 at the sides thereof in which are journaled spindles 3 Fig; 3 is a section on line AB supported by wheels 4. Crank arms 5 ex tendfrom the spindles and these crank arms are connected by links 6,to crank arms 7 secured to a transverse shaft 8, journaled on frame 1. Said transverse shaft is adapted to be rotated by a lever 9which may be connected to shaft 8 in any suitable manner.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

By referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that each link 6 is adjustably connected to the crank arm 5 thereunder.

Secured within the crank arms 5 are alining shaft sections 10 and 11 held together by a coupling 12. Arranged on each of these shaft sections is a cutting unit; there being suitably arranged collars 13 on the shaft sections whereby the cuttin units, in-

dicated generally at C, are held against longitudinal movement on the shaft sec tions. However, by loosening the collars, thcsecutting units can be shifted longitudinally along and removed from the shaft sections as hereinafter set forth.

As shown in Figs. 2- to 4: inclusive, each cuttingunit consists of two oppositely disposed similar heads 14 each consisting of an end plate 15 having a circular flange 16 on one face thereof, the free edge of the flange being formed with an exterior rabbet 17. Blades 18 radiate from the flange and the plate 15 has its marginal portion extended outwardly beyond the flange and pro- .videdwith reinforcing Webs or projections 19 formed integral with the blades 18. The rabbeted portions of the two heads project into and engage the end portions of a cylindcr 20 and tie bolts 21 extend throughthe heads so that by tightening the bolts said heads can be caused to bind tightly against the ends of the cylinder. Cutting blades 22 extend along the outer surface of the cylinder and the ends of these blades are bolted or otherwise secured to the blades 18. Thus it will be seen that each cutting unit includes a plurality of cutting blades and that each blade can be removed independently of the other blade. Furthermore, as a relatively large cylinder :20 constitutes the core of the cutting element, it will be apparent that there is no danger of material packing between the cutting blades and thus rendera ingthc structure ineffective.

Central openings 23 are formed in the heads of each cutting unit and one of the shaft sections 10 or 11 is adapted to be seated in the heads of each unit. These heads have bosses 24: in which the openings 23 are formed, said bosses providing broad bearings for the shaft sections.

Obviously when the machine is drawn forward so that the cutting elements will the other direction, said arms are. moved downwardly, producing a corresponding downward movement of the cutting units.

Should it be desired to use but a single cutting unit, coupling 18 can be disengaged from one of the sections, the two shaft seccoupled together as before.

tions thus being separately removable if so desired. The. cutting unit can be removed from either section and the two shafts then In order that the stalks may be gathered into the paths of the cutting elements, a cross bar 25 is supported in any suitable manner in front of theframe l and adjustably mounted on this bar are fingers'26 the upper ends of which are clamped about the bar 25 while the lower ends are bowed, as shown at 27 with their points extended forwardly. By loosening the upper ends of the teeth upon the bar 25, they can be ad justed toward or from each other so as thus to be brought to any desired positions relative to the cutting elements. When the machine is drawn forward these fingers will engage the stalks and drag them into the paths of the cutting elements, as :will be obvious. 1 1

What is claimed is 1. A stalk cutter including a shaft, op posed heads thereon, eachhead having a circular flange, a cylinder interposed between the heads and engaged at its ends by the respective flanges, means extending through the cylinder and the heads and parallel with the-shaft for binding the heads upon the. cylinder, blades upon-the heads, and cuttingblades mounted at their ends on said blades on the heads, andsepara'te means for detachably securing the respective cutting blades to the; blades on the heads.

2. A. stalk cutter including opposed similar .heads, each head including a plate, a

circular flange upon one face .of the plate and formed with al rabbeted free edge, blades outstanding from the flange, and reinforcing Webs formed by the plate and integral with the blades, a cylinder interposed between the heads and having .its ends engaged by the rabbeted portions of the flanges, means extending longitudinally through the cylinder and secured to the,

heads for binding the, heads against the cylinder, and cutting blades detachably secured 'at'their ends/to the blades on the j heads. 7 I I In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

QMARSHALLLEE ADAMS. I

Witnesses:

- DuHpBLann, L. H. REEVER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). 0.. y 

